Tsarnaev friend guilty of conspiracy, obstruction

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Jurors resumed deliberations today in the trial of Azamat Tazhayakov, a friend of Dzhohkar Tsarnaev who is accused of interfering with the investigation into the Boston Marathon bombings that killed three people and wounded more than 260 people.

Tazhayakov, 20, allegedly helped get rid of evidence to protect Tsarnaev in the days after the attacks last year. Lawyers for the former University of Massachusetts Dartmouth student have said he did not obstruct justice.

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The US District Court jury deliberated for two days last week.

If he is convicted of the most serious charge, Tazhayakov faces up to 20 years in prison. He could face a maximum of five years if he is convicted of a conspiracy to obstruct justice.

Tazhayakov is the first of three friends of Tsarnaev to go to trial on charges of interfering with the investigation of the bombing.

Prosecutors say Tazhayakov and his off-campus roommate removed a backpack containing fireworks and a laptop from Tsarnaev's UMass Dartmouth dorm room the night of April 18, 2013, shortly after the FBI released photos of the two suspected bombers.

Federal authorities say Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and his brother Tamerlan planned and carried out the bombing. Tamerlan died in a shootout with police early on April 19, 2013.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is scheduled to be tried in November and faces the death penalty if convicted.

Patricia Wen can be reached at wen@globe.com.

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